Introduction to Colossians: Authorship, Date, Audience - Crain Home

Home Page
Back to Top
Purpose
The church was actually founded by Epaphrus, as were the
churches in Hierapolis and Laodecia (nearby cities); Col 1:7
implies that Epaphrus was commissioned by Paul to preach
there.
2.4. What do Col 1:8; 4:12 indicate about Epaphrus'
whereabouts at the time of the composition of the letter?
Who was to carry the letter to the Colossians, according to
Col 4:7?
These passages indicate that Epaphrus was with Paul;
Tychicus was to carry the letter.
2.5. According to Philemon 23, why is Epaphrus with Paul,
and not in Colossae or somewhere else? (This assumes,
correctly, as we shall see, that Paul writes his Letter to the
Colossians and his Letter to Philemon during the same period
of time.)
In Philemon 23, Paul describes Epaphras as his "fellow
prisoner," implying that he also is in prison. How and why
Epaphras ended up incarcerated is not clear.
http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/Col.htm
5. Daniel Wallace
http://crain.english.mwsc.edu/colossians/index.htm (14 of 38)6/17/2003 8:16:07 AM
Paul addressed this epistle to the church at Colossae, a church
which was one hundred miles inland from Ephesus, in the
heart of the Lycus Valley. The apostle had never visited the
church (1:4; 2:1). Most likely, the church was founded by
Epaphras (cf. 1:7; 4:12-13) who was, in turn, converted by
Paul when Paul was at Ephesus (cf. Acts 19:10).
http://www.bible.org/docs/soapbox/colotl.htm
1. Colossians was written as a warning against certain false